Control device



J. D. BOLESKY CONTROL DEVI CE Feb. 27, 1945.

original Filed Apr-11 5, 195s FIGA. 3/ 59 4/ 56 Patented Feb. 27, 1945 coN'moL DEVICE John D. Bolesky, Attleboro, Mass., assignor to Metals & Controls Corporation,

Attleboro,

I Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Originalappllcation April 5, 1939, Serial No.

266,078. Divided and this application 2, 1943, Serial No. 471,141

7 Claims.

This inventionrelates to control devices, and, with regard to certain more specific features, to electric snap switches and valves, for example, of the manually actuated type.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 266,078, led April 5, 1939, now Patent No. 2,327,336, granted Aug. 24, 1943.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a control device, such as an electric switch, which can be used both to connect and disconnect a motor or other electrical device in whose circuit it is connected; the provision of an electric switch of the class described which is so constructed as to include novel means for preventing the formation of contact-destroying arcs; and the provision of control devices of the class described which are relatively economical to make, and safe in operation. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is i1- lustrated one ofA various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a switch embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a section along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several Views of the drawing.

While tlie'. present invention comprehends control devices of many types, the embodiment to which the,v present application primarily relates is an electric switch'actuatable manually.

Figures 1 through 4 show a practical switch embodiment of the invention following the general principles set forth in my copending application, Serial No. 266,078, referred to above.

Referring to Figures 1 through 4. numeral 30 indicates a base for the switch of cup-like construction, comprising a bottom portion 3| and an upstanding, generally cylindrical wall 32. Projecting out of the top of the cup-shaped base is a generally cylindrical control knob 33, the particular construction of which will be given in greater detail hereinafter. Both the base 30 vTerminal pieces 38 and 39, it will be seen,

January and the knob 33 are preferably made of an electrical insulating material, such as molded Bakelite, porcelain, etc. Base 30 is preferably provided with external mounting ears 29.

Mounted centrally in the bottom 3| of the base 30 is a threaded post 34, which has a polygonal head 35 for adjusting purposes. A lock nut 36 secures the relative adjustment of the post 34 in the bottom 3|. On the other side of the bottom 3|, the post 34 is extended into knob 33 as `an unthreaded cylindrical portion 31 of reduced diameter.

Extending through the bottom 3| of the base 30 are two electrical terminal pieces 38 and 39.

are diametrically opposite each other.

The terminal pieces 38 and 39 comprise sheet metal stampings which are force-fitted into the bottom 3| of base 30, affording internal contact faces 4| and 42, respectively, and external loops 44 and 45, respectively, to which external connections may be made as by soldering. The particular construction of the terminal pieces 38 and 39 is immaterial to the present invention,

and .hence need not be described at length herein.

The internal wall of the cylindrical portion 32 of the base 30 is provided with diametrically opposite bayonet-type notches 49, extending through, say, about 60 of arc. The notches 49 have, at one diametrically opposite end of each, relatively deeper portions 50, extending through about, say, 25 of arc, and bottoming on the inner surface of the bottom 3|. The notches 49 also have relatively shallower diametrically opposite portions 5|, which terminate downwardly as fiat ledges or platforms 52.

-Mounted on the reduced diameter portion 31 of post 34, on the shoulder afforded by the termination of the threaded portion of said post 34,*is a peripherally grooved collar 53into the groove of which relatively loosely ts the internal periphery of a concave monometallic spring disc |03 of the same general form as the thermostatic disc 23 shwn in Fig. 10 of my said application, Serial No. 266,078. The disc |03 is held in position in the groove 53 by a collar or nut 55, which clamps down on the collar 53. The collar 55 is force-fittedto the reduced diameter portion 3l of post 34, so that it cannot rotate relative thereto. On the surface of disc |03 facing the bottom 3| are mounted, as by welding,

in diametrically opposite positions, a pair of contact buttons 53 and 51, which are positioned at suitable radial distances to engage contact plates 42 when the disc |03 is in the Fig. 1 posiwardly from the periphery of the disc |03, but re v lieved slightly from said disc for a portion of its length remote from the ear -08 in order to be bent upwardly to form a sloping surface of an inclined-plane, camming character (see Fig. 4). The slope is opposite in direction for each projection of the pair on either side of each ear 53.

The disc |03, it will be understood, rotates freely in the groove of collar 53, relative to the post 34.

Surmounting the collar` 05 on the reduced diameter portion 31 oi.' post 34 is a relatively long sleeve 04, the outer end of. which is outwardly flanged as indicated at numeral 65. Preferably the sleeve 64 is a forced-fit on the post portion 31, so that it does not rotate relative thereto. Beyond the flange 05, reduced diameter portion 31 is preferably upset and headed over, as indicated at numeral 60.

Extending outwardly from the outer periphery of knob 33at the inner end thereof, are diametrically opposite projections 10. Each projection includes, in its under surface and at its outer edge, a notch 1| o! sumcient width freely Vto receive the upstandlng projection 58 on the periphery of disc |03. The notches 1| are of su'lcient depth to accommodate said projections 53.

The projections 10 extend radially outwardly suiciently far so that they lit only into the bayonet-type notches 49 in the base member 49, the said projections 10 limit the rotative movement of the knob 33 in the base 30.

As shown in Fig. 1,'the outer face or end of the knob 33 is preferably provided with a position-indicating means, such as the arrow 33a.

'I'he sloping character of the projections 59 makes it possible manually to rotate the knob 33, and with it the disc |03, in a counterclockwise manner. 59, ride up on the ledges 52 under such manual actuation of the knob 33.

This switch operates as a simple electrical make-and-break switch by manually rotating the knob 33 with its projections 10 consequently moving to and fro in bayonet-type slots 49. In one position movable contacts 53 and 51 rest on iixed contacts 4| and 42 to complete (or make) connections between terminals 38 and 30. In the other position movable contacts 53 and 51 are angularly displaced from fixed contacts 4| and 42 to disconnect (or break) connections between terminals 38 and. The spring disc |03 never snaps to opposite curvature, but its inherent re' siliency makes for ilrm contact pressure when the switch is closed, and positive separation when the switch is open.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the severa1 objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changescould be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and-not in a limiting sense.

dished resilient monometallic disc mounted on ,30. By abutting the ends of said bayonet notches The sloping faces of these projections f said post substantially parallel to said base and resiliently lbearing thereagainst and rotatable with respect to said base in a plane substantially parallel to said base, said spring having at least one peripheral projection o1' cam shape, means extending upwardly from said base and engaging both sides of said projection to define one angular )position of said spring, said last-named means extending circumferentially in one direction as a ledge on to which said projection rides against the normal tension of said spring to detine a second angular position of the spring, and

lcontrol means determined as to condition by the relative angulardisposition of said spring and said base.

2. In a control device, a base member, a post` mounted thereon, a spring member comprising a dished resilient monometallic plate mounted on.

said post substantially parallel to said base and resiliently bearing thereagainst and rotatable with respect to said base in a plane substantially parallel to said base, said spring having at least one peripheral projection of cam shape, means extending upwardly from said base and engaging both sides of said projection to define one angular position of said spring, said last-named means extending circuinferentially in one direction as a ledge on to which said projection rides against the normal tension of said spring to dene a second angular position of the spring, and control means determined as to conditionl by the relative angular disposition of said spring and said base.

3. In a control device, a base member, a post mounted thereon, a spring member comprising a dished resilient monometallic disc mounted on said post substantially parallel to said base and resiliently bearing thereagainst and rotable with respect to said base in a plane substantially parallel to said base, said spring having at least one peripheral projection of cam shape, means extending upwardly from said base and engaging both sides of said projection to define one angular po 'tion of said spring, said last-named means exte ing circumferentially in one direction as a ledge on to which said projection rides against the normal tensionV of said spring to define a second angular position of the spring, and control means determined as to condition by the vrelative angular disposition of said spring and said base, manually operable handle means mounted on said post, and means interconnecting said handle means and said spring for coextensive rotary movement, said interconnecting means including an upstanding projection on said spring which extends into a suitable recess in said handle means.

4. In a control device, a base member, a post mounted thereon, a spring member comprising a dished resilient monometallic plate mounted on said post substantially parallel to said base and resiliently bearing thereagainst and rotatable with respect to said base in a plane substantially parallel to said base, said spring vhaving at least one peripheral projection of cam shape, means extending upwardly from said base and engaging both sides of said projection to dene one an gular position of said spring, said last-named iine a second angular position of the spring, and control means determined as to condition by the relative angular dispositionk of said spring and said base, manually operable handle means mounted on said post, and means interconnecting said handle means and said spring for coextensive rotary movement, said interconnecting means including an upstanding projection on said spring which extends into a suitable recess in said handle means.

5. A control device comprising a base mem. ber,a post mounted thereon, a spring member comprising a resilient monometallic disc mounted on said post and resiliently bearing against said base, said disc being mounted rotatable with respect to said base, said spring having at least one peripheral projection of cam shape, and means extending from said base and engaging said projection to define a plurality of angular positions of said spring.

6. A control device comprising a base member, a post mounted thereon, a spring member comprising a resilient monometallic disc mounted on said post and resiliently bearing against .said base, said disc being mounted rotatable with respect to said base, said spring having at least one peripheral projection of cam shape, means extending from said base and engaging said projection to define a plurality of angular positions of said spring, and a movable contact mounted on said disc and resiliently pressed against said base by said disc.

7. A control device comprising a base member, a post mounted thereon, a spring -member comprising a resilient monometallic disc mounted on said post and resiliently bearing against said base, said discbeing mounted rotatable with respect to said base, said spring having at least one peripheral projection of cam shape, means extending from said base and engaging said projection to define a plurality of angular positions of said spring, and a movable contact mounted on said disc and resiliently pressed against said base by said disc, said disc being concave on its contact side.

JOHN D. BOLESKY. 

